This Woman Played The Violin During Brain Surgery To Preserve Brain Functions, Know How Music Helps

A 53-Year-old British Woman, Dogmar Turner had emerged from complicated brain surgery with the help of playing the violin throughout the operation. The doctors mapped her brain before the operation to identify areas that were active when she played the instrument and those responsible for controlling language and movement. During brain surgery, testing the language and motor skills of patients is considered. The tumour in Turner’s brain was nestled in the right frontal lobe of her brain, close to the area that controls language and the fine movements in her left hand. 

About The Miraculous Surgery

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In the case of higher cognitive function- language, memory, thought processing, or the ability to play music- the patient has to be wide awake. Brain surgery is a complicated task as there is a higher risk of losing the ability to play and making the operation worse. One wrong move could have cost Turner 40 years of violin practice. Hence, brain mapping was an essential part of the surgery. So the doctors opened up her skull for the surgery, then woke her from anaesthesia and asked her to play the violin. This helped the surgeons to see and avoid and preserve the parts of the brain she needs to play, while successfully removing the tumour.

Benefits Of Music On Brain

Music has undoubtedly helped the patient’s as well as the surgeons to map the brain activity and determine what kinds of functions are at risk during brain surgery. Other than that, music is beneficial not just for the brain, but can also help you develop your personality and increase your creativity. Here we look at the benefits of music

Improves memory

Music can bring back memories, to make a person feel relevant once again, and this is because specific music and the memories are stored in your brain. This cuts down health issues like Alzheimer’s disease. This effect has the potential to treat a person suffering from amnesia, traumatic brain injuries through music.

Helps to relieve anxiety

Listening to your favourite track can be just as beneficial as a 30-minute massage and helps in relieving stress and worry. This occurs when blood flow becomes more efficient, and the mind clears the anxiety, creating a distraction. This reduces negative energy and can promote stronger levels of happiness. Music balances your hormones. If hormone levels are unbalanced, a higher level of anxiety begins to appear. While listening to music, dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins are released, making us feel relaxed.

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Improves personal productivity levels

This is another benefit in which music can influence us and improve productivity in certain circumstances and tasks. According to specific research conducted, music stimulates human brain receptors, which help in communicating with other parts of the body, can help to improve productivity in several different ways. Listening to your favourite track will help stimulate adrenaline secretion, and other hormones, which will increase your mental as well as physical levels too.

Increases your emotional IQ levels

Music has a significant impact on our brain. You can identify facial expressions and body language associated with feelings of happiness and other similar emotions. Autistic children experience some of the most significant gains in emotional IQ improvement through music therapy. This happens because music stimulates both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously and with the help of this stimulation, specific communicative behaviours can be taught.

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